Nutraceutical therapies for atherosclerosis

Nat Rev Cardiol. 2016 Sep;13(9):513-32. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2016.103. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting large and medium arteries and is considered to be a major underlying cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the development of pharmacotherapies to treat CVD has contributed to a decline in cardiac mortality in the past few decades, CVD is estimated to be the cause of one-third of deaths globally. Nutraceuticals are natural nutritional compounds that are beneficial for the prevention or treatment of disease and, therefore, are a possible therapeutic avenue for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this Review is to highlight potential nutraceuticals for use as antiatherogenic therapies with evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the current evidence from observational and randomized clinical studies into the role of nutraceuticals in preventing atherosclerosis in humans will also be discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / adverse effects
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Arteries / drug effects*
  • Arteries / metabolism
  • Arteries / pathology
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis / mortality
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • Dietary Supplements* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Inflammation Mediators